I'm working on a school assignment dealing with the history of rock climbing. can anyone throw out particularly important or interesting events that happened in the climbing world across various years from 1988 until now?

I'm working on a school assignment dealing with the history of rock climbing. can anyone throw out particularly important or interesting events that happened in the climbing world across various years from 1988 until now?

for example: Lynn Hill Frees the Nose in 1993

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!

On July 18, 1879, Edward Whymper completed the First Ascent on Half Dome in Yosemite.

Dec 3, 1928, Fritz Weissner became the first Austrian to use a Kernmantle rope for his ascent of City Park, in Bend Oregon.

In 1993 Lyn Hill Free-soloed the Nose of El Cap. A feat that took 16 years to repeat. On the repeat, Tommy Caldwell actually lost the tip of a finger in a crack.

In 1965, Yvon Chouinard invented the Stitch Plate, revolutionizing the way climbers can belay and fall.

It may not be distant history, but don't forget the landmark moment in May, 2006 when Dean Potter free-soloed Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, capturing the hearts of climbers from around the world with his beautiful meshing of man and nature. Him, alone, on the side of that beautiful formation. Fantastic.

And casting a bit farther back, to 1923, when Don Whillians made the first ascent of Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK. Amazing to think such a monolith stood unsurmounted only 87 years ago, yet today sees literally thousands of ascents a year by tourists.

I'm working on a school assignment dealing with the history of rock climbing. can anyone throw out particularly important or interesting events that happened in the climbing world across various years from 1988 until now?

for example: Lynn Hill Frees the Nose in 1993

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!

In reply to:

On the repeat, Tommy Caldwell actually lost the tip of a finger in a crack.

I thought that was a carpentry accident.

to the OP. good luck with yer paper. If I were you, I'd read some books, and stay very far away from this site.

As this is a research assignment, maybe you should do some actual research.

This is, in part, how people do research. When I recently wrote a guidebook I did telephone peope, e-mail them, and ask questions on websites. With any research, you have to know how to filter the data you collect. I see nothing wrong with the kid asking here, although I can't say the same for most of the replies he's received.

I'm working on a school assignment dealing with the history of rock climbing. can anyone throw out particularly important or interesting events that happened in the climbing world across various years from 1988 until now?

Here’s something that can get you started. The May 2010 edition of “Climbing Magazine” contains an overview of 40 years of American Rock Climbing. Goes back a little farther than you asked for. After you do your assignment you might find it interesting to see a view of climbing since ancient times: “Sacred Mountains of the World” by Edward Bernbaum. Research librarians are usually helpful, and then there’s Google.

That Dean Potter mention is a joke right? It's gotta be. Illegally soloing that arch is an important date in climbing history? It's not even an important date in Potter History! What about his onsite solo FA of California Dreaming on Fitzroy in 2002?

That Dean Potter mention is a joke right? It's gotta be. Illegally soloing that arch is an important date in climbing history? It's not even an important date in Potter History! What about his onsite solo FA of California Dreaming on Fitzroy in 2002?